Actuating mechanisms



Feb. i6, i965 T. E. ARMANDROFF ACTUATING MECHANIsMs Filed sept. 1s. 1961F/GJ.

LLA

/NVE/VTOR. THF? 5 ARM//VDRFF,

5y '714. ATTO/UVEK 3,lb9,4l0 Patented Feb. 16, 1965 3,169,4lll ACTUATNGMECHANESMS ait E. Armandro, New Britain, Conn., assigner to GeneralElectric Qompany, a corporation or New Yori; Filed Sept. 13, 196i, Ser.No. 133,86l 3 Claims. (Ci. 74-S3) This invention relates to actuatingmechanisms and has particular relation to a mechanism mounted on a panelfor actuating electrical devices located on one side of the panel by anoperation performed at the other side of the panel.

Various means have heretofore been proposed for effecting actuation ofelectrical devices at one side of a panel by an operation performed atthe other side of the panel. Previous designs of such actuatingmechanisms either have not been reliable, have been relativelyexpensive, have possed substantial front to rear dimensions, or haveincorporated a large number oi parts. Furthermore, many prior actuatingmechanisms of this type include metallic parts so arranged as to presentthe possibility of electrical shock to operating personnel.

lt is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide animproved actuating mechanism of small, reliable and inexpensiveconstruction for actuating electrical devices on one side of a panel byan operation performed on the other side ot the panel.

it is another object of the invention to provide an actuating mechanismof the type above-described including a minimum number of parts soarranged as to eliminate the possibility of electrical shock tooperating personnel, and to permit rapid assembly and disassemblythereof.

lt is a further obiect of the invention to provide an actuatingmechanism of the type above-described which is of rugged constructionand which has a small front to rear dimension.

ln carrying out the invention in one preferred form an actuatingmechanism is associated with a xed panel and comprises a movable devicehaving at one Iside of the panel an insulating actuatable part andhaving at the other side of the panel an insulating operating part including a pair of insulated arms to be moved with the actuatable part toactuate a pair of electrical devices positioned on such other side ofthe panel. The panel includes an opening toward which the actuatablepart is to be depressed to etlect movement of the operating part. Thepanel carries a support located on the side of the panel containing theoperating part, and a pair of conical spiral springs engage the supportand the movable device so as to bias the actuatable part away from thepanel. The springs compress within themselves when the device isactuated and therefore do not add appreciably to the front to reardimension of .the device.

ther objects and advantages of the invention lwill become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdraw-ings in which:

HG. l is a view in front elevation showing a panel with pmts broken awayand the actuatable part of the actuating mechanism at the front side ofthe panel;

FIG. 2 is a View in section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. l; and

FlG. 3 is a view similar to FlG. 2 showing the device in an actuatedcondition.

Referring now to the drawings there` is illustrated in FIG. l a portionof a panel lt) adapted to operatively support the actuating mechanism ofthe present invention. The panel 10 may comprise a wall of a controlunit or other apparatus which contains one or more electrical devices tobe actuated by means of the actuating mechanism. The panel lt? includesan opening ll of generally rectangular configuration communicating withthe inner side of the panel at which the devices to be actuated arelocated.

The actuating mechanism of the present invention preferably includes apair of movable members formed of suitable insulating material which aremovable relative to the panel lll comprising an actuatable member l2located at the outer side of the panel l() toward the observer as viewedin FlG. l to be actuated Iby an operator, and an operating member i3connected to the part l?. and located at the inner side of the panellll. The devices to be actuated are designated generally by the numerals14 and, as shown in FlG. 2, two spaced devices lo are located at theinner side or" the panel lll to be actuated by spaced laterally eX-tending arms l5 which may be for-med of a metallic material and whichare carried at opposite ends of the member 13, and detachably secured tothe member 13 by screws 16 extending through elongated openings 1'! ofthe member i3. The devices 1.4 may assume various forms, such as motorstarters, containing operating elements, such as overload reset buttonsl, adapted to lbe reciproca-ted in vertical directions as viewed in FlG.2 in response to vertical movements of the arms l5 on the member i3.

The mechanism of the present invention eliminates the possibility ofelectrical shock to operating personnel. To this end the arms l5 areinsulated from each other by the insulating material of the member 13.ln addition, the metallic screws lo which engage the arms l5 arerecessed within the openings l? so as to be spaced Ifrom the panel l@when the mechanism is in its normal position of FIG. 2.

As best shown in FlG. 2 the lmembers l2 and 13 are operativelyconnectedtor movement as a unit by means of a fastener shown in the formot' a screw 20 extending through an elongated aperture 2l in the member13 into threaded engagement with a threaded opening 22 in the member l2.With such arrangement, the members l2 and 13 are movable as a unit invertical directions as viewed in FIG. 2 in response to depression andrelease of the member l2 by an operator located at the outer side of thepanel il). When the members 12 and 13 are secured together, a projection23 of the member l2 lits Within a slot (not shown) of the member 13 toengage the base of the slot (not shown).

In order to provide an operative connection between the panel 10 and theactuating mechanism the panel l0 is provided with a support -forengaging resilient means which also engages the actuating mechanism aswill presently appear. As shown in FlG. 2 the support comprises a pairof generally L-shaped fingers 24 preferably lanced out of the materialof the panel to be located at the inner side of the panel. The lingers24 include generally parallel parts 25 extending substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the panel and connected to the panel, andparallel generally coplanar parts 26 connected to the parts 25 andextending parallel to and spaced from the plane of the panel.

When the actuating mechanism is operatively associf ated with the panel10, the fingers 24 are positioned with- 3. in spaced cavities 27 formedin the member 13 with the parts 26 of the fingers located adjacent thebases of the cavities 27 when the actuating mechanism is in anonactuated condition as shown in FIG. 2. The cavities 27 are spaced bya projection 28 containing the aperture 21 and also containing the slot(not shown) within which the projection 23 of member 12 is positioned.

The resilient means previously referred to for operatively connectingthe actuating mechanism and the panel is preferably in the form of apair of conical spiral springs 30 positioned intermediate the fingers 24and the member 12 with the larger convolutions of the springs engagingthe parts 26 of the fingers 24 and with the smaller convolutionsengaging the bases of a pair of spaced pockets or recesses 31 formed inthe member 12. The springs 30 are normally in expanded conditions whenthe actuating mechanism is non-actuated to bias the member 12 to itsfull extent away from the panel at the outer side thereof. For thiscondition the member 13 engages the inner surface of the panel 19 asshown in FfG. 2.

In order to actuate the actuating mechanism for effecting verticalmovement ofthe operating elements 18 as viewed in FIG. 2, the member 12is depressed to effect movement thereof upwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 tothe position shown in FIG. 3. Such movement of the member 12 is readilyperformed by an operator located at the outer side of the panel or belowthe panel as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. depressed, the member 13 is movedtherewith and the springsV 3B are compressed within themselves due totheir conical configuration as shown in FIG. 3. Upward movement of themember ,13 as viewed in FIG. 3 results in the arms 1S contacting theelements 18 to effect corresponding upward movement thereof to effectactuation of the devices 14.V When the member 12 is released afteractuation thereof to the position shown in FIG. 3, the springs 30 areexpanded to effect downward movement of the member 12 and the member 13from the positions shown in FIG. 3 to the normal positions illustratedin FIG. 2. Such downward movement is terminated by engagement of themember 13 with the panel 1t).

It is noted that when the member 12 is depressedto its full extent, thesprings 30, due to their conical congurations, are compressed withinthemselves such that the thickness of but a single convolution of eachspring 30 lies between the finger parts 26 and the upper surface of themember 12 as viewed in FIG. 3. Therefore, the springs 3f) do not addappreciably to the front to rear dimension of the mechanism therebyminimizing such dimension.

It can be appreciated that the arms 15 may assume various forms. Forexample, the arms 15, rather than being detachably connected to themember 13, may comprise integral parts of the member 13 and, forexample, may be molded therewith from a suitable insulating material.The arms 15 mayV assume Various configurations and lengths so as to becapable of actuating elements 18 which are spaced by distances differentthan those shown. Itis also understood that the arms 15 may be omittedVif desired and the rear surface of the member 13 employed to effectmovement of the elements 18. The members 12 and 13 are congured so as tohave substantial clearance from parts of the panel 10 such that theactuating mechanism will not jam against the panel 10 when actuatingpressure is applied to the member 12 off-center thereof. It is alsonoted that a single fastener in thefform of the screw 21 is utilized tooperatively connect themembers 12 and-13.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made without departing from myinvention in its broader aspects and I, therefore, intend in `theappended claims to cover all such changes and modifica- When the memberV12 isV in the recesses of said actuatable member in engagement tions asfall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. An actuating mechanism comprising, a panel having an opening, anactuatable member on one side of said panel to be depressed toward saidopening, an operating member on the other side of said panel secured tosaid actuatable member, said actuatable member having a pair of spacedrecesses each opening at said panel opening, said operating memberhaving a pair 'of spaced cavities each opening at said panel opening, apair of spaced generally L-shaped fmgers struck out from the panel atsaid other side thereof positioned within the cavities of said operatingmember, said fingers having generally coplanar parts parallel to andspaced from said panel and adjacent the bases of said cavities, and-apair of conical spiral springs seated in the recesses of said actuatablemember in engagement with said parts of said fingers to normally biasthe actuatable member away from the panel, said springs being compressedwithin themselves when said actuatable member is actuated.

2. An actuating mechanism comprising, a metallic panel having anopening, an insulating actuatable member on one side of said panel to bedepressed toward said opening, an insulating operating member on theother side of said panel, vsaid actuatable member having a threaded holeand a pair of spaced recesses each opening at said panel opening, saidoperating member having a pair of spacedV cavities and an apertureextending entirely through the operating member with the cavities andaperture each opening at said panel opening, a screw extending throughsaid aperture into said threaded hole to secure the members together formovement as a unit,

a pair of spaced generally L-shaped ngers struck out from the panel atsaid other side thereof positioned within the cavities of said operatingmember, said fingers having generally coplanarl parts extending towardeach other parallel to and spaced'from said panel and adjacent the basesof said cavities, a pair of conical spirl springs seated with said partsof said fingers to normally bias the actuatable member away from thepanel and the operating member into engagement with the panel, andlaterally extending metallic arms spaced on said operating member forengagement with devices located at said other side of the panel; saidsprings being compressed within themselves when the actuatable member isactuated.

3. An actuating mechanism comprising, a metallic panel having anopening, an insulating actuatable member on one side of said panel to bedepressed toward said opening, an insulating operating member on theother side of said panel, said actuatable member having a threaded holeand a pairA of spaced recesses each opening at said panel opening, saidoperating ymember having a pair of spaced cavities and an apertureextending entirely through the operating member with the cavities andaperture `each opening at said panel opening, a screw extending throughsaid aperture into said threaded hole to secure the members together formovement as a unit, a pair of spaced generally' L-shaped fingers struckout from the panel at said other side thereof positioned within thecavities of said operating member, said fingers having generallycoplanar parts extending toward each other parallel to and spaced fromsaid panel and adjacent the bases of said cavities, a pair Yof conicalspiral springs seated in the recesses of said actuatable member inengagement with said parts 0f said fingers to normally bias theactuatable member away from the panel and the operating member intoengagement with the panel, laterally extending metallic arms spaced onsaid operating member for engagement with devices located at said otherside of the panel; said springs being compressed within themselves whenthe actuatable member is actuated, said v operating member having a pairof spaced openings extend- J ing therethrough, and a pair of screwsrecessed in said openings and extending into threaded openings of saidarms to secure t'ne arms to said operating member, said screws beingspaced from said panel when the mechanism is in a normal condition andthe operating member engages the panel.

References Cited by the Exanner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTSBelgium. Canada. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Italy.

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

